# 1970–71 Football League

The 1970–71 season was the 72nd completed season of The Football League.
Arsenal won the league championship at the home of their North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, with Ray Kennedy scoring the winner. This would soon be followed by their FA Cup final tie with Liverpool. They narrowly overcame Leeds to win the league, with a 12-point gap separating Leeds United from third-placed Tottenham. Wolves and Liverpool joined these two teams in the UEFA Cup. Chelsea missed out on the top five on goal average but compensated for this shortcoming by beating Real Madrid in the European Cup Winners' Cup.
Burnley and Blackpool (who won this year's Anglo-Italian Cup) were relegated to the Second Division. Burnley returned from 1973/74 to 1975/76 but it took Blackpool until the 2009–10 season to regain their top flight status after a 3–2 victory over Cardiff City in the Playoff Final (only to be relegated back after the 2010–11 season).
Wilf McGuinness was sacked after 18 unsuccessful months as manager of Manchester United. Sir Matt Busby was re-appointed as manager on a temporary basis, but never considered returning to his old job on a permanent basis. Leicester City manager Frank O'Farrell was appointed at the end of the season.
Leicester City and Sheffield United were promoted to the First Division. Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers, two of the most famous and historic names in English football, were relegated to the Third Division.
Preston North End and Fulham finally had something to shout about by getting promoted to the Second Division. Halifax Town achieved its best ever league position, missing out on the Second Division by one place. Reading, Bury, Doncaster Rovers and Gillingham slid into the Fourth Division.
Notts County, Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, Oldham Athletic and York City were promoted to the Third Division. The Football League voted for the league's four bottom clubs to maintain their status.

## Final league tables and results

Beginning with the season 1894–95, clubs finishing level on points were separated according to goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded), or more properly put, goal ratio. In case one or more teams had the same goal difference, this system favoured those teams who had scored fewer goals. The goal average system was eventually scrapped beginning with the 1976–77 season.
Since the Fourth Division was established in the 1958–59 season, the bottom four teams of that division have been required to apply for re-election.

## First Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Arsenal (C) | 42 | 29 | 7 | 6 | 71 | 29 | 2.448 | 65 | Qualification for the European Cup first round |
| 2 | Leeds United | 42 | 27 | 10 | 5 | 72 | 30 | 2.400 | 64 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 3 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 19 | 14 | 9 | 54 | 33 | 1.636 | 52 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 22 | 8 | 12 | 64 | 54 | 1.185 | 52 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 5 | Liverpool | 42 | 17 | 17 | 8 | 42 | 24 | 1.750 | 51 | Qualification for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round |
| 6 | Chelsea | 42 | 18 | 15 | 9 | 52 | 42 | 1.238 | 51 | Qualification for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round |
| 7 | Southampton | 42 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 56 | 44 | 1.273 | 46 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 8 | Manchester United | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 65 | 66 | 0.985 | 43 | Qualification for the Watney Cup |
| 9 | Derby County | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 56 | 54 | 1.037 | 42 | |
| 10 | Coventry City | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 37 | 38 | 0.974 | 42 | |
| 11 | Manchester City | 42 | 12 | 17 | 13 | 47 | 42 | 1.119 | 41 | |
| 12 | Newcastle United | 42 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 44 | 46 | 0.957 | 41 | |
| 13 | Stoke City | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 44 | 48 | 0.917 | 37 | |
| 14 | Everton | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 54 | 60 | 0.900 | 37 | |
| 15 | Huddersfield Town | 42 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 40 | 49 | 0.816 | 36 | |
| 16 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 42 | 61 | 0.689 | 36 | |
| 17 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 58 | 75 | 0.773 | 35 | Qualification for the Watney Cup |
| 18 | Crystal Palace | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 39 | 57 | 0.684 | 35 | |
| 19 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 42 | 48 | 0.875 | 34 | |
| 20 | West Ham United | 42 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 47 | 60 | 0.783 | 34 | |
| 21 | Burnley (R) | 42 | 7 | 13 | 22 | 29 | 63 | 0.460 | 27 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 22 | Blackpool (R) | 42 | 4 | 15 | 23 | 34 | 66 | 0.515 | 23 | Relegation to the Second Division |
* ↑ Liverpool qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as FA Cup runners-up, as winners, Arsenal, qualified for the European Cup.
* ↑ Chelsea qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as the 1970-71 European Cup Winners' Cup winners.
* 1 2 Manchester United and West Bromwich Albion qualified for the Watney Cup as the two teams with the most goals that hadn't already qualified for a European competition.

### Results

| Home \ Away | ARS | BLP | BUR | CHE | COV | CRY | DER | EVE | HUD | IPS | LEE | LIV | MCI | MUN | NEW | NOT | SOU | STK | TOT | WBA | WHU | WOL |
| Arsenal | | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 6–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| Blackpool | 0–1 | | 1–1 | 3–4 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 |
| Burnley | 1–2 | 1–0 | | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–3 |
| Chelsea | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 |
| Coventry City | 1–3 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | | 2–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 |
| Crystal Palace | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–5 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| Derby County | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–4 | 1–0 | | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 4–4 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–2 |
| Everton | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 0–1 | 1–2 |
| Huddersfield Town | 2–1 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Ipswich Town | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | | 2–4 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–3 |
| Leeds United | 1–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 3–0 |
| Liverpool | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 |
| Manchester City | 0–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | | 3–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 |
| Manchester United | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | | 1–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Newcastle United | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 |
| Nottingham Forest | 0–3 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 4–1 |
| Southampton | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 6–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 |
| Stoke City | 5–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 0–1 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 3–0 | | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 4–3 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 5–2 | 3–1 | | 2–1 | 2–4 |
| West Ham United | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–4 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | | 3–3 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 | |

### Top scorers

Goalscorers are listed order of total goals, then according to the number of league goals, then of FA cup goals, then of League Cup goals. A dash means the team of the player in question did not participate in European competitions.
* The goals listed below in the European fields stem from the following competitions:
** Everton participated in the 1970–71 European Cup.
** Manchester City participated in the 1970–71 European Cup Winners' Cup.
** Arsenal, Coventry City, Leeds United (winners), Liverpool, and Newcastle United participated in the 1970–71 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
** Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Stoke City, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion, and Wolverhampton Wanderers participated in the 1970–71 Texaco Cup.
| Rank | Scorer | Club | League goals | FA Cup goals | League Cup goals | Texaco Cup goals | Euro competitions | Total |
| 1 | Martin Chivers | Tottenham | 21 | 1 | 7 | 5 | — | 34 |
| 2 | Tony Brown | West Bromwich Albion | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 30 |
| 3 | Ray Kennedy | Arsenal | 19 | 2 | 2 | — | 3 | 26 |
| 4 | Bobby Gould | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 17 | 2 | 0 | 5 | — | 24 |
| 5 | Allan Clarke | Leeds United | 19 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 23 |
| 6 | Joe Royle | Everton | 17 | 2 | 0 | — | 4 | 23 |
| 7 | Ian Storey-Moore | Nottingham Forest | 18 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 22 |
| 8 | George Best | Manchester United | 18 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 21 |
| 9 | Ron Davies | Southampton | 17 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 21 |
| 10 | John Radford | Arsenal | 15 | 2 | 1 | — | 3 | 21 |
| 11 | Mick Channon | Southampton | 18 | 1 | 1 | — | 0 | 20 |
| 12 | Hugh Curran | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 16 | 0 | 0 | 4 | — | 20 |
| 13 | Francis Lee | Manchester City | 14 | 0 | 1 | — | 4 | 19 |
| 14 | Colin Bell | Manchester City | 13 | 4 | 0 | — | 2 | 19 |
| 15 | John Toshack | Liverpool / Cardiff City | 5 + 8 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 + 5 | 19 |
| 16 | Peter Lorimer | Leeds United | 12 | 2 | 0 | — | 5 | 19 |
| 17 | Martin Peters | Tottenham Hotspur | 9 | 2 | 4 | 4 | — | 19 |
| 18 | John Ritchie | Stoke City | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | 17 |
| 19 | Alan Gilzean | Tottenham Hotspur | 9 | 4 | 4 | 0 | — | 17 |
| 20 | Denis Law | Manchester United | 15 | 0 | 1 | — | — | 16 |
| = | Geoff Hurst | West Ham United | 15 | 0 | 1 | — | — | 16 |
| 22 | Johnny Giles | Leeds United | 13 | 2 | 0 | — | 1 | 16 |
| 23 | Jeff Astle | West Bromwich Albion | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 15 |
| = | John O’Hare | Derby County | 13 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 15 |
| 25 | Alun Evans | Liverpool | 10 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 15 |
| 26 | John Tudor | Newcastle United / Sheffield United | 5 + 9 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 14 |
| 27 | Keith Weller | Chelsea | 13 | 0 | 1 | — | 0 | 14 |
| 28 | Terry Conroy | Stoke City | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | 14 |
| 29 | George Graham | Arsenal | 11 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 14 |
| 30 | Neil Martin | Coventry City / Nottingham Forest | 1 + 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 |
| 31 | Pop Robson | Newcastle United / West Ham United | 3 + 9 | 0 + 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 13 |
| 32 | Derek Dougan | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — | 13 |
| 33 | Alan Birchenall | Crystal Palace | 10 | 1 | 2 | — | — | 13 |
| 34 | Ernie Hunt | Coventry City | 10 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 13 |
| 35 | Brian Kidd | Manchester United | 8 | 0 | 5 | — | — | 13 |
| 36 | Kevin Hector | Derby County | 11 | 0 | 1 | — | — | 12 |
| 37 | / Colin Viljoen | Ipswich Town | 10 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 12 |
| 38 | Alan Hinton | Derby County | 10 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 12 |
| 39 | Gerry Queen | Crystal Palace | 9 | 0 | 3 | — | — | 12 |
| 40 | Peter Cormack | Nottingham Forest | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 12 |
| 41 | Frank Worthington | Huddersfield Town | 9 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 11 |
| 42 | Micky Burns | Blackpool | 10 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 10 |
| 43 | Frank James Clarke | Ipswich Town | 8 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 10 |
| 44 | Jimmy Greenhoff | Stoke City | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 10 |
| 45 | Charlie George | Arsenal | 5 | 5 | 0 | — | 0 | 10 |

## Second Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Leicester City (C, P) | 42 | 23 | 13 | 6 | 57 | 30 | 1.900 | 59 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 2 | Sheffield United (P) | 42 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 73 | 39 | 1.872 | 56 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 3 | Cardiff City | 42 | 20 | 13 | 9 | 64 | 41 | 1.561 | 53 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round |
| 4 | Carlisle United | 42 | 20 | 13 | 9 | 65 | 43 | 1.512 | 53 | Qualification for the Watney Cup |
| 5 | Hull City | 42 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 54 | 41 | 1.317 | 51 | |
| 6 | Luton Town | 42 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 62 | 43 | 1.442 | 49 | Qualification for the Watney Cup |
| 7 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 60 | 43 | 1.395 | 48 | |
| 8 | Millwall | 42 | 19 | 9 | 14 | 59 | 42 | 1.405 | 47 | |
| 9 | Birmingham City | 42 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 58 | 48 | 1.208 | 46 | |
| 10 | Norwich City | 42 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 54 | 52 | 1.038 | 44 | |
| 11 | Queens Park Rangers | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 58 | 53 | 1.094 | 43 | |
| 12 | Swindon Town | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 61 | 51 | 1.196 | 42 | |
| 13 | Sunderland | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 52 | 54 | 0.963 | 42 | |
| 14 | Oxford United | 42 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 41 | 48 | 0.854 | 42 | |
| 15 | Sheffield Wednesday | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 51 | 69 | 0.739 | 36 | |
| 16 | Portsmouth | 42 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 46 | 61 | 0.754 | 34 | |
| 17 | Orient | 42 | 9 | 16 | 17 | 29 | 51 | 0.569 | 34 | |
| 18 | Watford | 42 | 10 | 13 | 19 | 38 | 60 | 0.633 | 33 | |
| 19 | Bristol City | 42 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 46 | 64 | 0.719 | 31 | |
| 20 | Charlton Athletic | 42 | 8 | 14 | 20 | 41 | 65 | 0.631 | 30 | |
| 21 | Blackburn Rovers (R) | 42 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 37 | 69 | 0.536 | 27 | Relegation to the Third Division |
| 22 | Bolton Wanderers (R) | 42 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 35 | 74 | 0.473 | 24 | Relegation to the Third Division |

### Results

| Home \ Away | BIR | BLB | BOL | BRI | CAR | CRL | CHA | HUL | LEI | LUT | MID | MIL | NWC | ORI | OXF | POR | QPR | SHU | SHW | SUN | SWI | WAT |
| Birmingham | | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2–2 | | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–3 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 3–0 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–3 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 4–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 0–1 |
| Bristol City | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 4–3 | 2–1 | 3–0 |
| Cardiff City | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 4–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–4 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Carlisle United | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 6–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 |
| Charlton Athletic | 1–1 | 2–4 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 |
| Hull City | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 5–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–4 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 |
| Leicester City | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Luton Town | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Middlesbrough | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | | 1–0 | 5–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 6–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 |
| Millwall | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 |
| Norwich City | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Orient | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| Oxford United | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 |
| Portsmouth | 1–0 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | | 2–0 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 5–0 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 5–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| Sheffield United | 3–0 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | | 3–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 3–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–5 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 |
| Sunderland | 2–1 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | | 5–2 | 3–3 |
| Swindon Town | 1–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | | 1–1 |
| Watford | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | |

### Top scorers

Goalscorers are listed order of total goals, then according to the number of league goals, then of FA cup goals, then of League Cup goals. A dash means the team of the player in question did not participate in European competitions.
* Cardiff City scored a total of 15 goals in the 1970–71 European Cup Winners' Cup, but John Toshack’s 6 goals are given in the listing for First Division topscorers by Rothmans. The other 9 goals were distributed between six other players, none of whom made this listing.
| Rank | Scorer | Club | League goals | FA Cup goals | League Cup goals | Total |
| 1 | Malcolm Macdonald | Luton Town | 24 | 4 | 2 | 30 |
| 2 | John Hickton | Middlesbrough | 25 | 0 | 2 | 27 |
| 3 | Bob Hatton | Carlisle United | 18 | 2 | 4 | 24 |
| 4 | Chris Chilton | Hull City | 21 | 2 | 0 | 23 |
| 5 | Rodney Marsh | Queens Park Rangers | 21 | 1 | 1 | 23 |
| 6 | Phil Summerill | Birmingham City | 16 | 1 | 4 | 21 |
| 7 | Don Rogers | Swindon Town | 16 | 0 | 4 | 20 |
| 8 | Alan Warboys | Cardiff City / Sheffield Wednesday | 13 + 6 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| 9 | Barry Bridges | Millwall / Queens Park Rangers | 15 + 2 | 0 | 0 + 1 | 18 |
| 10 | Alistair Brown | Leicester City | 15 | 2 | 0 | 17 |
| 11 | Ken Foggo | Norwich City | 15 | 1 | 1 | 17 |
| 12 | Derek Possee | Millwall | 14 | 1 | 2 | 17 |
| 13 | Peter Silvester | Norwich City | 15 | 0 | 1 | 16 |
| 14 | David Watson | Sunderland / Rotherham United | 4 + 9 | 0 + 3 | 0 | 16 |
| 15 | Ron Wigg | Watford | 13 | 2 | 1 | 16 |
| 16 | Ken Wagstaff | Hull City | 12 | 4 | 0 | 16 |
| 17 | Alan Woodward | Sheffield United | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| = | Mick Prendergast | Sheffield Wednesday | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| = | Trevor Francis | Birmingham City | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| = | Brian Clark | Cardiff City | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 21 | Peter Noble | Swindon Town | 14 | 1 | 0 | 15 |
| 22 | Hughie McIlmoyle | Middlesbrough | 13 | 1 | 1 | 15 |
| 23 | Bill Dearden | Sheffield United | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 24 | Ray Hiron | Portsmouth | 13 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| 25 | Arthur Horsfield | Swindon Town | 11 | 1 | 2 | 14 |
| 26 | Bob Latchford | Birmingham City | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| 27 | Bobby Owen | Carlisle United | 11 | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| 28 | Derrick Downing | Middlesbrough | 11 | 1 | 1 | 13 |
| 29 | Don Givens | Luton Town | 11 | 0 | 2 | 13 |
| 30 | Malcolm Partridge | Leicester City / Mansfield Town | 3 + 3 | 3 | 4 | 13 |
| 31 | John Galley | Bristol City | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 32 | Dennis Martin | Carlisle United | 10 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| 33 | Terry Venables | Queens Park Rangers | 10 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| 34 | John Farrington | Leicester City | 8 | 0 | 3 | 11 |
| = | Chris Garland | Bristol City | 8 | 0 | 3 | 11 |
| 36 | Joe Baker | Sunderland | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| = | Harry Cripps | Millwall | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 38 | Tony Currie | Sheffield United | 9 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| = | Bobby Kerr | Sunderland | 9 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| 40 | Mike Trebilcock | Portsmouth | 8 | 2 | 0 | 10 |

## Third Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Preston North End (C, P) | 46 | 22 | 17 | 7 | 63 | 39 | 1.615 | 61 | Promotion to the Second Division |
| 2 | Fulham (P) | 46 | 24 | 12 | 10 | 68 | 41 | 1.659 | 60 | Promotion to the Second Division |
| 3 | Halifax Town | 46 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 74 | 55 | 1.345 | 56 | Qualification for the Watney Cup |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 46 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 54 | 46 | 1.174 | 53 | |
| 5 | Chesterfield | 46 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 66 | 38 | 1.737 | 51 | |
| 6 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 69 | 50 | 1.380 | 51 | |
| 7 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 18 | 15 | 13 | 64 | 62 | 1.032 | 51 | |
| 8 | Rotherham United | 46 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 64 | 60 | 1.067 | 50 | |
| 9 | Wrexham | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 72 | 65 | 1.108 | 49 | Qualification for the Watney Cup |
| 10 | Torquay United | 46 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 54 | 57 | 0.947 | 49 | |
| 11 | Swansea City | 46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 59 | 56 | 1.054 | 46 | |
| 12 | Barnsley | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 49 | 52 | 0.942 | 45 | |
| 13 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 58 | 62 | 0.935 | 45 | |
| 14 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 50 | 47 | 1.064 | 44 | |
| 15 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 12 | 19 | 15 | 63 | 63 | 1.000 | 43 | |
| 16 | Rochdale | 46 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 61 | 68 | 0.897 | 43 | |
| 17 | Port Vale | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 52 | 59 | 0.881 | 42 | |
| 18 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 10 | 22 | 14 | 45 | 55 | 0.818 | 42 | |
| 19 | Bradford City | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 49 | 62 | 0.790 | 40 | |
| 20 | Walsall | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 51 | 57 | 0.895 | 39 | |
| 21 | Reading (R) | 46 | 14 | 11 | 21 | 48 | 85 | 0.565 | 39 | Relegation to the Fourth Division |
| 22 | Bury (R) | 46 | 12 | 13 | 21 | 52 | 60 | 0.867 | 37 | Relegation to the Fourth Division |
| 23 | Doncaster Rovers (R) | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 45 | 66 | 0.682 | 35 | Relegation to the Fourth Division |
| 24 | Gillingham (R) | 46 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 42 | 67 | 0.627 | 33 | Relegation to the Fourth Division |

### Results

| Home \ Away | AST | BAR | BRA | B&HA | BRR | BRY | CHF | DON | FUL | GIL | HAL | MAN | PLY | PTV | PNE | REA | ROC | ROT | SHR | SWA | TOR | TRA | WAL | WRE |
| Aston Villa | | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–4 |
| Barnsley | 1–1 | | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 |
| Bradford City | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Bristol Rovers | 1–2 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 1–3 | | 0–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 3–2 |
| Bury | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 5–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 |
| Chesterfield | 2–3 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | | 4–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Doncaster Rovers | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 |
| Fulham | 0–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 |
| Gillingham | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 | | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 |
| Halifax Town | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | | 0–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 4–3 | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| Mansfield Town | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–5 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | | 1–5 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 6–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 |
| Plymouth Argyle | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 4–4 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 |
| Port Vale | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | | 1–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 |
| Preston North End | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 4–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 |
| Reading | 3–5 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 |
| Rochdale | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 4–3 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 |
| Rotherham United | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 5–1 | | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| Shrewsbury Town | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 7–3 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Swansea City | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 |
| Torquay United | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | | 4–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 |
| Tranmere Rovers | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 5–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | | 0–0 | 1–1 |
| Walsall | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | | 3–1 |
| Wrexham | 2–3 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 2–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | |

### Top scorers

Goalscorers are listed order of total goals, then according to the number of league goals, then of FA cup goals, then of League Cup goals. A dash means the team of the player in question did not participate in European competitions.
| Rank | Scorer | Club | League goals | FA Cup goals | League Cup goals | Total |
| 1 | Dave Gwyther | Swansea City | 18 | 7 | 2 | 27 |
| 2 | Dudley Roberts | Mansfield Town | 22 | 1 | 1 | 24 |
| 3 | Gerry Ingram | Preston North End | 22 | 0 | 2 | 24 |
| 4 | John Rudge | Torquay United | 18 | 2 | 1 | 21 |
| 5 | George Andrews | Shrewsbury Town | 18 | 2 | 0 | 20 |
| 6 | Ernie Moss | Chesterfield | 16 | 3 | 1 | 20 |
| 7 | Kevin Randall | Chesterfield | 19 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| 8 | George Jones | Bury | 18 | 1 | 0 | 19 |
| 9 | Bill Atkins | Halifax Town | 18 | 0 | 1 | 19 |
| 10 | Robin Stubbs | Bristol Rovers | 17 | 1 | 1 | 19 |
| 11 | Bruce Bannister | Bradford City | 16 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
| 12 | Albert Kinsey | Wrexham | 16 | 0 | 1 | 17 |
| 13 | Les Barrett | Fulham | 15 | 0 | 2 | 17 |
| 14 | John James | Port Vale | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 15 | Reg Jenkins | Rochdale | 13 | 0 | 2 | 15 |
| = | Steve Earle | Fulham | 13 | 0 | 2 | 15 |
| 17 | John Stenson | Mansfield Town | 12 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
| 18 | Ray Graydon | Bristol Rovers | 13 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| = | Arfon Griffiths | Wrexham | 13 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| 20 | Alf Arrowsmith | Rochdale | 12 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| 21 | Gordon Cumming | Reading | 11 | 3 | 0 | 14 |
| 22 | Colin Taylor | Walsall | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| 23 | Harold Jarman | Bristol Rovers | 12 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| = | Dick Habbin | Reading | 12 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| 25 | Bobby Ham | Preston North End / Bradford City | 10 + 2 | 0 | 0 + 1 | 13 |
| 26 | Kit Napier | Brighton & Hove Albion | 11 | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| 27 | Tom White | Bury | 11 | 1 | 1 | 13 |
| 28 | Ken Beamish | Tranmere Rovers | 10 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| 29 | Andy Lochhead | Aston Villa | 9 | 0 | 4 | 13 |
| 30 | Mike Green | Gillingham | 11 | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| 31 | Alf Wood | Shrewsbury Town | 11 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| 32 | Ian Hamilton | Aston Villa | 9 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
| 33 | Pat McMahon | Aston Villa | 8 | 0 | 4 | 12 |
| 34 | Dave Lennard | Halifax Town | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| = | Don Hutchins | Plymouth Argyle | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 36 | George Johnston | Fulham / Walsall | 9 + 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 37 | Geoff Vowden | Aston Villa / Birmingham City | 5 + 3 | 0 | 0 + 3 | 11 |
| 38 | Ronnie Moore | Tranmere Rovers | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| = | Brian Yeo | Gillingham | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 40 | David Cross | Rochdale | 9 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| = | Neil Hague | Rotherham United | 9 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| 42 | Leslie Lea | Barnsley | 9 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| 43 | Steve Briggs | Doncaster Rovers | 9 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| = | Keith Brierley | Halifax Town | 9 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| 45 | Brian Evans | Swansea City | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |

## Fourth Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Notts County | 46 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 59 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 30 | 24 | 2.472 | 69 | Division Champions, promoted |
| 2 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 46 | 16 | 5 | 2 | 51 | 15 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 30 | 31 | 1.761 | 60 | Promoted |
| 3 | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 57 | 29 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 31 | 34 | 1.397 | 59 | Promoted |
| 4 | York City | 46 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 45 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 33 | 40 | 1.444 | 56 | Promoted |
| 5 | Chester | 46 | 17 | 2 | 4 | 42 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 27 | 37 | 1.255 | 55 | |
| 6 | Colchester United | 46 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 44 | 19 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 26 | 35 | 1.296 | 54 | Qualified for 1971 Watney Cup |
| 7 | Northampton Town | 46 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 39 | 24 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 24 | 35 | 1.068 | 51 | |
| 8 | Southport | 46 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 42 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 21 | 33 | 1.105 | 48 | |
| 9 | Exeter City | 46 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 40 | 23 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 27 | 45 | 0.985 | 48 | |
| 10 | Workington | 46 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 28 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 20 | 36 | 0.980 | 48 | |
| 11 | Stockport County | 46 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 28 | 17 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 21 | 48 | 0.754 | 46 | |
| 12 | Darlington | 46 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 42 | 22 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 35 | 1.018 | 45 | |
| 13 | Aldershot | 46 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 32 | 23 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 34 | 48 | 0.930 | 45 | |
| 14 | Brentford | 46 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 45 | 27 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 21 | 35 | 1.065 | 44 | |
| 15 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 13 | 1 | 9 | 49 | 35 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 26 | 41 | 0.987 | 44 | Qualified for 1971 Watney Cup |
| 16 | Peterborough United | 46 | 14 | 3 | 6 | 46 | 23 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 24 | 48 | 0.986 | 43 | |
| 17 | Scunthorpe United | 46 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 36 | 23 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 20 | 38 | 0.918 | 43 | |
| 18 | Southend United | 46 | 8 | 11 | 4 | 32 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 21 | 42 | 0.803 | 43 | |
| 19 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 37 | 26 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 20 | 45 | 0.803 | 43 | |
| 20 | Cambridge United | 46 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 31 | 27 | 6 | 4 | 13 | 20 | 39 | 0.773 | 43 | |
| 21 | Lincoln City | 46 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 45 | 33 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 25 | 38 | 0.986 | 39 | Re-elected |
| 22 | Newport County | 46 | 8 | 3 | 12 | 32 | 36 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 23 | 49 | 0.647 | 28 | Re-elected |
| 23 | Hartlepool | 46 | 6 | 10 | 7 | 28 | 27 | 2 | 2 | 19 | 6 | 47 | 0.459 | 28 | Re-elected |
| 24 | Barrow | 46 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 25 | 38 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 26 | 52 | 0.567 | 22 | Re-elected |
* 1 2 The two teams who scored the most goals in each division, and did not qualify for Europe and were not promoted, qualified for the Watney Cup.
* ↑ New club in the league; elected from Southern League

### Results

| Home \ Away | ALD | BRW | B&BA | BRE | CAM | CHE | COL | CRE | DAR | EXE | GRI | HAR | LIN | NPC | NOR | NTC | OLD | PET | SCU | STD | SOU | STP | WRK | YOR |
| Aldershot | | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Barrow | 1–1 | | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 0–2 |
| Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 1–1 | 0–0 | | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 |
| Brentford | 2–3 | 2–1 | 1–2 | | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 6–4 |
| Cambridge United | 1–1 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 |
| Chester | 1–2 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 5–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| Colchester United | 5–2 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| Crewe Alexandra | 0–3 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 5–3 | 1–2 | 6–3 | 0–3 | | 3–0 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 3–4 |
| Darlington | 1–2 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | | 3–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 |
| Exeter City | 4–1 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 6–2 | 2–1 | | 4–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 |
| Grimsby Town | 0–2 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–5 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 |
| Hartlepool | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| Lincoln City | 4–4 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | | 1–1 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–5 |
| Newport County | 1–2 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–4 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–3 |
| Northampton Town | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–2 |
| Notts County | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 5–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | | 2–0 | 6–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 |
| Oldham Athletic | 5–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 5–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Peterborough United | 1–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 |
| Scunthorpe United | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 5–2 | | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 0–1 |
| Southend United | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 4–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Southport | 3–3 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 1–0 | 6–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 3–0 | | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 |
| Stockport County | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 4–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | | 1–0 | 1–0 |
| Workington | 4–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | | 1–0 |
| York City | 3–1 | 4–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | |

### Top scorers

Goalscorers are listed order of total goals, then according to the number of league goals, then of FA cup goals, then of League Cup goals. A dash means the team of the player in question did not participate in European competitions.
| Rank | Scorer | Club | League goals | FA Cup goals | League Cup goals | Total |
| 1 | Ted MacDougall | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 42 | 7 | 0 | 49 |
| 2 | Ray Crawford | Colchester United | 25 | 7 | 0 | 32 |
| 3 | Paul Aimson | York City | 26 | 5 | 0 | 31 |
| 4 | Jim Fryatt | Oldham Athletic | 24 | 0 | 2 | 26 |
| 5 | Jack Howarth | Aldershot | 21 | 3 | 1 | 25 |
| 6 | Phil Boyer | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic / York City | 11 + 9 | 0 + 1 | 0 + 3 | 24 |
| 7 | David Shaw | Oldham Athletic | 23 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| 8 | Tony Hateley | Notts County | 22 | 1 | 0 | 23 |
| 9 | Pat Morrissey | Crewe Alexandra | 20 | 1 | 1 | 22 |
| 10 | Billy Best | Southend United | 19 | 3 | 0 | 22 |
| 11 | Alan Banks | Exeter City | 21 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| 12 | Phil Hubbard | Lincoln City | 18 | 1 | 0 | 19 |
| 13 | Joe Gadston | Exeter City | 18 | 0 | 1 | 19 |
| 14 | Colin Garwood | Peterborough United | 17 | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| = | Alan Harding | Darlington | 17 | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 16 | John Fairbrother | Northampton Town | 15 | 1 | 2 | 18 |
| 17 | Bobby Svarc | Lincoln City / Barrow | 11 + 3 | 4 | 0 | 18 |
| 18 | Ivan Hollett | Cambridge United / Crewe Alexandra | 11 + 6 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| 19 | Alan Tarbuck | Chester | 16 | 1 | 0 | 17 |
| = | Sammy McMillan | Stockport County | 16 | 1 | 0 | 17 |
| = | Eddie Loyden | Chester | 16 | 1 | 0 | 17 |
| 22 | Bobby Ross | Brentford | 15 | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| 23 | Allan Gauden | Darlington | 13 | 2 | 1 | 16 |
| 24 | Derek Trevis | Lincoln City | 13 | 1 | 2 | 16 |
| 25 | Percy Freeman | Lincoln City | 10 | 4 | 2 | 16 |
| 26 | Dennis Brown | Aldershot | 14 | 1 | 0 | 15 |
| = | Roger Cross | Brentford | 14 | 1 | 0 | 15 |
| 28 | Fred Large | Northampton Town | 14 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| 29 | Willie Brown | Newport County | 13 | 0 | 2 | 15 |
| 30 | Don Masson | Notts County | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| = | Eddie Garbett | Barrow | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 32 | Alan McNeill | Oldham Athletic | 13 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| = | Kevin McMahon | York City | 13 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| = | Peter Graham | Darlington | 13 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| = | Stan Bowles | Crewe Alexandra | 13 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| 36 | Richie Barker | Notts County | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| 37 | Bob Moss | Peterborough United | 11 | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| 38 | John Docherty | Brentford | 10 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| 39 | Tommy Robson | Peterborough United | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| = | Eric Redrobe | Southport | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 41 | Nigel Cassidy | Oxford United / Scunthorpe United | 4 + 7 | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| 42 | Charlie Crickmore | Notts County | 10 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| 43 | Bill Garner | Southend United | 8 | 4 | 0 | 12 |
| 44 | Les Bradd | Notts County | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| = | Terry Heath | Scunthorpe United | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| = | Jim Irvine | Barrow | 11 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| = | Matt Tees | Grimsby Town / Luton Town | 9 + 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
| 48 | Jim Hall | Peterborough United | 10 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| = | Keith Webber | Chester | 10 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 50 | Tommy Bryceland | Oldham Athletic | 10 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| = | Kevin Keegan | Scunthorpe United | 10 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| 52 | Stuart Brace | Grimsby Town | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| = | Alan Bradshaw | Crewe Alexandra | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 54 | Rod Jones | Newport County | 9 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| = | Eddie Rowles | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 9 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| 56 | Keith Bebbington | Oldham Athletic | 9 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| 57 | Tommy Spratt | Workington | 8 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
* ↑ Rothmans apparently has an error in the goals of David Shaw, but it is not possible to identify the error clearly.